US President Donald Trump says Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s global second-in-command, has been eliminated. Multiple outlets report that Trump makes the announcement late Friday night and reiterates it in a post on Truth Social, saying that al-Minuki believed he could hide in Africa. Coverage also links the claim to an operation in Africa, with some reports describing it as an airstrike carried out by US forces.
Reporting across sources notes that al-Minuki had been under US sanctions since 2023 due to ties to the Islamic State group. Several articles also state that ISIS maintains a significant presence in parts of West Africa, which provides context for Trump’s comments about where al-Minuki could have been located.
While the outlets summarize Trump’s statements and the general circumstances of an Africa-based US operation, they do not provide independent details about the specific operation, timing, location, or confirmation methods. The information presented is therefore centered on Trump’s public claim and related background on the figure’s sanction status.
